If Chelsea steal Sanchez, Arsenal may be squeezed out of the elite
Arsene Wenger will quite soon be given an opportunity to test his theory about the biggest club in London. For this summer is all about Chelsea. Who Chelsea sell, who Chelsea buy. And the prime job for the manager of Arsenal is to prevent his club being the collateral damage when that shakedown comes.
eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Alexis sanchez, romelu Lukaku. Chelsea’s decisions are key to the futures of each of those players. They are a big selling club, for sure — but a big buying club, too. It is not beyond them to sell players worth considerably more than £100million — and replace them with the same outlay.
That has been the pattern of the last three years. since January 2014, six players alone — Oscar, ramires, David Luiz, Lukaku, Andre schurrle and Juan Mata — have brought in over £200m for Chelsea. Another six — Willian, Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, David Luiz, Michy Batshuayi and n’golo Kante — have cost nearly £190m. And there have been more than 50 deals, in and out, in the lesser range, below £25m.
so Chelsea will sell — which is why real Madrid feel they can target Hazard. But Chelsea will buy — which is why Arsenal are vulnerable over sanchez. The danger being that Arsenal are not in the same position of strength as Chelsea. They may not be able to offer Champions League football next season, they do not have such a recent record of success.
Increasingly, they look like a club being left behind. This is the challenge for Wenger. If Chelsea take sanchez to partner Lukaku, how does he respond?
Hazard will go, if Hazard wants. Having disappeared for one season already at stamford Bridge, Chelsea cannot risk another year of injuries and sulks if he does not get his way. real Madrid will make him one of the world’s most expensive players and Chelsea will invest that money in the market, as they invariably do.
Antonio Conte may be tired of Costa, too, and has a strong potential replacement in Lukaku. He also wants to strengthen in the wing-back role, to upgrade in readiness for the Champions League. Chelsea will be busy this summer.
Yet, if they come for sanchez, where does that leave Arsenal, potentially needing to rebuild and replace their best player at precisely the worst time? A top-four finish looks more important than ever this season.
The Manchester clubs are also out to buy again and, without Champions League football, Arsenal risk being squeezed out, or pushed towards second choices. To Wenger’s credit he wants to meet this challenge. Whether he can is another matter. Indeed, with the ground conceded in recent years, whatever he thinks about size, it may already be too late.